Fishing for Redfish in Daytona Beach, Florida

More Species at The Fish We Catch in Daytona Beach

Redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus) are Florida’s most popular inshore game fish. They are the most commonly sought after fish by Daytona Beach fishing charters and recreational fishermen fishing inshore. Redfish are very good to eat! Redfish are known by several names including Red Drum, Channel Bass, Spottail, Red Bass or simply Reds.

Members of the Drum Family of Fishes
Although sometimes referred to as Red Bass or Channel Bass, Redfish are not members of the Bass family but are members of the Drum family of fishes. Redfish or Red Drum, produce a drumming sound when out of the water produced by muscles rubbing against the inflated air bladder.

Captain John of Floating Time Charters is current on all fishing regulations. Here are the latest Fishing Regulations for Redfish in Florida including seasons, sizes and catch limits.

Where are Redfish Found?
Redfish found in coastal estuaries throughout Florida including the Halifax River, the Intracoastal Waterway, the coastal marshes and slow moving brackish water creeks in the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet area. They can be found in the inshore waters around Daytona Beach year round. With the warm winters we have in Daytona Beach, Redfish are feeding and can be caught pretty much every day of the year.

Redfish can be found in coastal waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast all the way from Massachusetts to Key West. Redfish caught along the Atlantic Coast  are generally larger than Redfish found on the Gulf Coast.

Redfish Size
The record size for a Redfish caught in Florida is 51 pounds and 45 inches in total length. This record size Redfish was caught near Cocoa, Florida in 1996, just south of Daytona Beach in Brevard County. The largest Redfish caught in Florida with fly fishing tackle was 43 pounds. It was caught in 1995 in the Banana River, also in Brevard County just south of Daytona Beach.

Mature and Juvenile Redfish have Different Habitats
Adult Redfish live in offshore and nearshore waters while juvenile Redfish live inshore in coastal marshes, bays and brackish water rivers and creeks, such as the Halifax River and Spruce Creek near Daytona Beach. Juvenile Redfish inhabit these inshore waters until about three to four years of age when they move offshore where they will breed and spend out the rest of their lives.

At 2 years of age, Redfish will range from 18 to 24 inches, and weigh 3 to 6 pounds. At 3 years of age, Redfish will range in size from 20 to 28 inches, and weigh 4 to 9 pounds. Starting at about 3 years of age, Redfish will leave the safety of inshore waters in the Daytona Beach area and head out to sea through Ponce inlet to join the schools of spawning bull redfish. A few larger fish remain inshore, especially in the Mosquito Lagoon area, but after three years of age, Redfish generally move offshore to join the large breeding schools.

Are Redfish good to eat?
Yes, Redfish, also known as Red Drum, are among the tastiest fish on any menu. Juvenile redfish, under 10 pounds, are much preferred over the large adult redfish for their tender, tasty flesh. Blackened Redfish became such a popular restaurant craze in the 1980s, that never before regulations had to be enacted to prevent collapse of redfish populations in the southeast United States.

Offshore Fishing is our most popular Daytona Beach fishing charter!
When you’re ready to have fun fishing in Daytona Beach, contact Captain John of Floating Time Charters.

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